What are some members' views on copyright & piracy?

dragonballzgtfighter · Post by **dragonballzgtfighter** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:48 pm

What are the members view on copyright and piracy?

A person buys the episodes, movies and albums but creates copies of them so that they can introduce DBZGT to friends. They are not making profit from it, would this be ok in your eyes?

Take the same situation and involve the internet where people can download these files. Would this be ok in your eyes?

omegacwa · Post by **omegacwa** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:01 pm

Downloading a movie off the internet is bad, worse if it's still in theaters. Not only are you stealing the film, but you are taking money away from it, and reducing it's gross income. Think about this. A lot of people saw Dark Knight. It made over 500 million dollars. But imagine what the total could have been if there weren't those assholes on the internet who bootlegged it and decided they had no need to see it in the theater. You would be surprised at how many off these people there are.

Anyway, what's my opinion? Hmm. "Tape Trading" which I use to do with a friend with bootleg DBZ episodes and movies back in 1997-99, I guess I don't have a problem with it cause I use to do it.

Bootlegging is bad, don't get me wrong. But if something is unavailable, or out of print, and the only way you can get it is a bootleg copy, then go ahead, other wise just buy the damn legitimate copy.

I know this guy, who refused to buy a video game, that was 10 bucks, because he could get it for free on the internet, burn a bootleg, and play it on his modded ps2. RIDICULOUS!

SSj_Rambo · Post by **SSj_Rambo** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:13 pm

I think a person should never own a licensed material without paying for it unless a different person paid for it, gave it to you, and no longer owns any of it.

I see buying bootlegged DVD's as worse than downloading it from the internet, because both ways the company is not getting their cut but when you buy a bootleg someone who has no right to the product is getting money for it.

dragonballzgtfighter · Post by **dragonballzgtfighter** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:18 pm

I have known people who would get copied games, music or films then liked it so much they bought it from the shops.

The point i'm making here is that at times this is the only way to introduce people to new things or to get them interested in things that are already out there.

Also some people do it because they can't afford to buy or wait for it to come out on DVD.

SonGokuGT · Post by **SonGokuGT** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:37 pm

I think that the makers of the product whether it's music or movies or anything else should get their cut. They worked to put their stuff out there for others to enjoy and deserve to be paid for it just like I deserve to be paid for going to work. So yes, downloading stuff is bad, but it does have good effects.

Back when I would download fansubs of Dragonball GT, Fruits Basket, Naruto, and One Piece I loved having access to the shows before their American release. All the shows got licensed, and what did I do? I bought them all! I have all of Bruits Basket and DBGT, and I'm picking up Naruto and One Piece as the uncut sets are released.

Right now, the only thing I do is read scanlations of Naruto, Bakuman, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. And what do I do? I support the releases as well!

Another thing is fair use. I believe in fair use! I hate how greedy companies are trying to change laws so that we have to consume even more! If it were up to them it would be illegal to rip a CD to your iTunes. I think that if you pay for the material then you should have free reign to do whatever you want with it as long as its not taking profits away for the rights holders. So if I want to rip a DVD so I can watch it on my PSP then I should be able to. Same thing with a store bought CD being converted to MP3 for an iPod.

dragonballzgtfighter · Post by **dragonballzgtfighter** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:40 pm

Another thing is fair use. I believe in fair use! I hate how greedy companies are trying to change laws so that we have to consume even more! If it were up to them it would be illegal to rip a CD to your iTunes. I think that if you pay for the material then you should have free reign to do whatever you want with it as long as its not taking profits away for the rights holders. So if I want to rip a DVD so I can watch it on my PSP then I should be able to. Same thing with a store bought CD being converted to MP3 for an iPod.

I feel the same just wish it would happen

another thing is when material is banned in one country and not in another. that is when copyright and piracy works

SSj_Rambo · Post by **SSj_Rambo** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:41 pm

dragonballzgtfighter wrote:The point i'm making here is that at times this is the only way to introduce people to new things or to get them interested in things that are already out there.

I see where you're coming from and I agree with you. Sharing your media with others is the best way to introduce them to the material, but allowing them to keep an illegal copy is the problem. You can always just let them borrow your original and I think that that is the best option.

omegacwa · Post by **omegacwa** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:01 pm

Isn't bootlegging in China legal? Like that's why some of the DB dvd's that come from there are high quality in real shrink wrap packaging with original art and so on?

SSj_Rambo · Post by **SSj_Rambo** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:04 pm

omegacwa wrote:Isn't bootlegging in China legal? Like that's why some of the DB dvd's that come from there are high quality in real shrink wrap packaging with original art and so on?

No.

AnimeNewsNetwork wrote:...for many years it was legal in Taiwan (Republic of China on Taiwan) to make unauthorized copies of foreign material that had not been released in Taiwan within 30 days of their initial publication. Although these bootlegs were legal in Taiwan, it was illegal to import them into most other countries; Taiwanese bootlegs were always illegal in North America. Since joining the World Trade Organization on January 1st, 2002, the practice is no longer legal in Taiwan.

Super Ghost Kamikaze · Post by **Super Ghost Kamikaze** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:06 pm

If you want to see a show, film, or play a game...pay for it.

I don't buy the "If I like it enough I'll pay for it." mentality. If you like it enough to watch/consume it the FIRST time, then pay for it. If you DON'T, then WAIT LIKE THE REST OF US and pay for it when the price drops. Don't go ahead and snag it for free while the rest of us who actually PAY for our entertainment either wait honorably or pay the price.

If you want to show something to your friends, let them borrow your copy. Or come over to your place to watch your copy. Or buy them a DVD with a few episodes. Don't bootleg.

SSj_Rambo · Post by **SSj_Rambo** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:09 pm

And the fact that Netflix has an extremely large amount of anime (especially DBZ (every disc from ever season set)) that you can rent for as low as 5$ makes the whole bootleg buying and internet downloading ridiculous as well as wrong, IMO.

omegacwa · Post by **omegacwa** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:10 pm

I have a friend who rents movies from Netflix and copies them. He doesn't even watch them, he just rents all the new movies and copies them.

dragonballzgtfighter · Post by **dragonballzgtfighter** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:20 pm

Although piracy and copyright is illegal in asian countries the police force try to catch rapists, murders and people that harm children.

In western countries I see the police spend more time stopping piracy than stopping murders, rapists and people that harm children.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:24 pm

dragonballzgtfighter wrote:Although piracy and copyright is illegal in asian countries the police force try to catch rapists, murders and people that harm children.

In western countries I see the police spend more time stopping piracy than stopping murders, rapists and people that harm children.

Not likely. Ever been to Chinatown in NYC. I've seen cops buy bootlegs there.

ssgOverlord · Post by **ssgOverlord** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:15 pm

Well, to be honest I will copy a DVD and let a friend have it if they are interested, but not enough to ever buy it. That way I feel they didn't even lose a potential purchase. I guess it's the same with some internet file sharing...I myself like "trying before I buy" with some things.

With anime I download fansubs to browse, though. Because a lot of obscure anime titles that you can buy on DVD don't get much exposure outside people downloading the fansub.

Wojak · Post by **Wojak** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:05 pm

I don't buy bootlegs, because if I'm going to do something "wrong", nobody's gonna get money for it. But I download.
My opinion is: If it sucks, no bucks.
I don's care what anybody else says. I am a poor student and I have the right to entertainment as anybody else.
I still visit the cinema, when I can afford it.
I think that one day I will be able to buy all my films easily, with my education leading to a well-paid job.
But still, what about those that cannot afford expensive movie tickets or to pay 5$ to rent a movie?
Until films ect. gets into a reasonable price, I won't pay unless I have to, or if the makers deserve the money.
Also, I live in an expensive country, which makes it harder to survive economically.

Super Ghost Kamikaze · Post by **Super Ghost Kamikaze** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:12 pm

Wojak wrote:I don't buy bootlegs, because if I'm going to do something "wrong", nobody's gonna get money for it. But I download.
My opinion is: If it sucks, no bucks.
I don's care what anybody else says. I am a poor student and I have the right to entertainment as anybody else.
I still visit the cinema, when I can afford it.
I think that one day I will be able to buy all my films easily, with my education leading to a well-paid job.
But still, what about those that cannot afford expensive movie tickets or to pay 5$ to rent a movie?
Until films ect. gets into a reasonable price, I won't pay unless I have to, or if the makers deserve the money.
Also, I live in an expensive country, which makes it harder to survive economically.

I'm a poor college student. Last month I had to watch what I spent on food because books really cut into my budget. I work for my entertainment money.

Nobody has a "right" to entertainment. There is no such thing, and that sense of baseless entitlement angers me.

"I can't afford it, so I deserve to take whatever I want. Maybe I'll pay for it if it makes me say 'wow'."

Yeah, sure. Things cost money. I don't have all the things I'd like to. But I pay for those things that I want most. That's how these things WORK. You don't just DESERVE something because it costs MONEY.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:33 pm

Wojak wrote:I don't buy bootlegs, because if I'm going to do something "wrong", nobody's gonna get money for it. But I download.
My opinion is: If it sucks, no bucks.
I don's care what anybody else says. I am a poor student and I have the right to entertainment as anybody else.
I still visit the cinema, when I can afford it.
I think that one day I will be able to buy all my films easily, with my education leading to a well-paid job.
But still, what about those that cannot afford expensive movie tickets or to pay 5$ to rent a movie?
Until films ect. gets into a reasonable price, I won't pay unless I have to, or if the makers deserve the money.
Also, I live in an expensive country, which makes it harder to survive economically.

5 dollars a movie is kinda cheaper than my local theatre.

Captain Awesome · Post by **Captain Awesome** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:34 pm

I'm a student, which means I'm fucking destitute.

And even I managed to collect all of DB/Z/GT over a period of two years without breaking the bank, and it wasn't even a priority.

MajinVejitaXV · Post by **MajinVejitaXV** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:43 pm

In an age of Craigslist, Ebay, etc. it's difficult to justify bootlegs. I can get nearly any music CD domestically for $0.99, and movies are on sale constantly if you look in the right places. That being said, I have downloaded unlicensed/unreleased animes. As they become available, I do however buy them.

I'm not against sharing though. And I don't mean that in the "let me put the DragonBoxes on Bittorrent and let 50,000 people leech them," manner but more in the "Mike wants to make a video and needs X seconds/minutes of footage" way. To me, you can share what you have without being a pirate. It's just that many push that line too far.

Besides, my main thing with bootlegging is that the bootlegged copies are almost always inferior. People rip CD's wrong (skips, pops, artifacting), encode XviD/DivX copies terribly, etc. I'd rather pay a few bucks via one of the many affordable legitimate outlets and get a solid copy as well as support the continued support of such releases (hence why I bought the Viz Daizenshuu, despite having them all in Japanese).

-Corey